8X Consent 2011 0620 - Laserfiche WebLink

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CITY OF SAN LEANDRO STAFF REPORT DATE: June 20, 2011 TO: Stephen Hollister, City Manager FROM: Carolyn Knudtson, erector Recreation and Human Services SUBJECT PROJECT/PROJECT DESCRIPTION: APPROVED AND FORWARDED TO CITY COUNCIL Stephen Hollister City Manager RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE SUBMITTAL OF A GRANT APPLICATION TO ROUND TWO OF THE STATEWIDE PARK DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNITY REVITALIZATION PROGRAM OF 2008 FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF SIEMPRE VERDE PARK SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends the City Council approve the Resolution authorizing the City Manager, or his designee, to submit a grant application for the improvement of Siempre Verde Park. BACKGROUND On November 7, 2006, California voters approved Proposition 84, the $5.4 billion "Safe Drinking Water, Water Quality and Supply, Flood Control, River and Coastal Protection Bond Act of 2006." This bond measure contains a provision to provide $400 million for competitive grants for local and regional parks. It states that "the acquisition and development of new parks and expansion of over used parks that provide park and recreational access to underserved communities shall be given preference." It further states that, "preference will be given to applicants that actively involve community based groups in the selection and planning of projects." The competitive grant for which we are applying is known as the "Statewide Park Development and Community Revitalization Program of 2008 ". The maximum grant amount is $5 million per project, no match by the City is required. The Siempre Verde Park improvement grant request is for $2.9 million. The round one average grant amount was $2.97 million. The City of San Leandro submitted a grant to improve Siempre Verde Park in round one of the allocation, last March, 2010. Although the City we did not receive the grant, the Siempre Verde project made the first cut; which is significant. The State Park employees said we had a very strong and impressive application, and the determining factor of whether or not we receive the grant is based on our project's competitiveness with other second round applications. After attending a State Parks workshop regarding the second round of funding and meeting with the State Parks employees that over see the grant, it was determined that Siempre Verde continues to be the project that most closely meets the criteria due to its "significant lack of park space" and high level of community involvement in the planning of the park improvements.